Samir Bannout Talks Samson Dauda ‘Burnout’ & Health, and Who Can Beat Chris Bumstead

There’s no denying Samson Dauda has been on a roll during his 2023 bodybuilding season. In light of his continued success in the Open class circuit, former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout took to a recent Old School Labs podcast to discuss his health, burnout, and which contenders have the potential to dethrone Chris Bumstead. 

Over the last several months, “The Nigerian Lion” has collected momentum with his tall frame and aesthetic physique. In 2022, Samson Dauda turned in fourth-place performances at the Arnold Classic and Boston Pro. Stepping on the Mr. Olympia stage that same calendar year, Dauda shocked the world with a sixth-place debut. 

That would only be the start of a massive run. He set his sights on the 2023 Arnold Classic in March, and battled Nick Walker en route to earning gold. With momentum and voices of the sport naming him a top contender to steal the throne from Hadi Choopan, Dauda stepped on the big stage more confident than ever.

He ultimately placed third behind Choopan and the newly crowned champion Derek Lunsford. After that, Dauda claimed two consecutive titles at the 2023 Romania Muscle Fest Pro and the Prague Pro. 

Meanwhile, Chris Bumstead in the Classic Physique category continues to extend his dominant reign. Boasting five Classic Physique Olympia titles, many fans, including bodybuilding veteran Samir Bannout are curious which athletes have the potential to take his crown. 

Samir Bannout Opens Up On Samson Dauda: “Guys Like Samson Shouldn’t Be in a Rush” 

In Samir Bannout’s opinion, competitors of the Open class such as Samson Dauda shouldn’t “rush,” adding that he has the body to win it, maybe even as early as next year. 

“We need to pay attention to health bro. Guys like Samson shouldn’t be in a rush. Samson has the body to win it. If not now, next year but I would put more, I would take it easy John. I would make sure I’m healthy, cleanse my body, and then come back stronger.”

“I know the money is good. John, I hear you the money is good, he’s making money but I would keep my health a top priority and make sure my numbers are good. That’s what I’m saying. Taxing the body. Taxing your liver. Taxing your kidneys. This is the issue here.”

Given that performance-enhancing drugs often make up a portion of a bodybuilder’s prep, Bannout warned Dauda against “burnout” from “excessive ABC (steroids).” 

“I don’t burnout from training but the body burns out from excessive ABC even if you change the esters, John, even if you change the ester of the medication because sometimes you take the same ester the body will adapt to it, you change it and there’s a better response. That’s not the point here, the point is, is your livers and kidneys safe?

He underscored the importance of preserving kidney health, red blood cell count, and liver enzymes. 

“This is what we need to focus on. Your liver enzymes, your kidneys, your red blood cell count, all of these things are important to stay healthy and come back and win shows in the future,” said Samir Bannout.

Is Chris Bumstead Unbeatable? Bannout Says No 

According to the bodybuilding veteran, Chris Bumstead might be a dominant champion, but underlined even the greatest athletes of their disciplines are beatable. 

“So far Chris Bumstead… he’s preparing for every show and coming in great condition. He’s beatable. Let’s put it this way, he’s beatable. Chris Bumstead is beatable. Like for example, guys like Urs if he put on a couple inches on his arms he has beautiful lines. Urs is beautiful. He’s got a great body.

Now Ramon, I honestly feel like he couldn’t taken a couple of first places and I love Ramon’s body. I don’t know what Ramon needs to do to outmatch Chris Bum on stage presentation. Bumstead gets super shredded but I know where his flaws, I know where are his flaws,” said Bannout. 

As for Bumstead’s most worthy threats, Bannout pointed to Germany’s Urs Kalecinski first, assuming he could bring up his arm size. For Ramon Rocha Queiroz, Bannout suggested that stage presentation is what’s most needed for the Brazilian star. 

“Guys like Urs with ten more pounds… plus about an inch and a half on his arm or two inches, he’ll probably could do that [defeat Bumstead].

Ramon in my opinion is a great contestant, he’s having a tough time with Chris Bumstead because again we said it before, Bumstead is very his stage presentation really it’s much more powerful than Ramon.

And he knows how to control his body. Do I think Chris Bumstead is beatable? Of course he’s beatable — everybody is beatable. There’s no such thing as unbeatable.”

He mentioned that Breon Ansley might have a more round upper body than Bumstead, but that the reigning five-time Classic Physique Olympia’s lower body definition and stage presence separate him from his adversaries. 

“If you look at Breon’s upper body it’s probably rounder and as good as Bumstead’s if not better in the upper body, but Bumstead’s lower body and presentation, this is what separates himself from the guys.”

According to bodybuilding veteran Shawn Ray, Bumstead has been largely unchallenged atop the Classic Physique throne. With that in mind, Shawn Ray believes the Canadian star should move up to the Men’s Open and try his luck against the mass monsters of today. Further, Ray added that Bumstead wouldn’t need to drastically alter his physique to make the transition. 

With Samson Dauda continuing to make strides as an Open class star time will tell if he can capture the Mr. Olympia title. As for Chris Bumstead, Samir Bannout believes Kalecinski and Queiroz remain the top threats to his reign. 

RELATED: Chris Bumstead Reflects on ‘Disappearing’ to Win 5th Straight Classic Physique Olympia Title

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